Buckeye hauling Maverick Glass

Tuesday was a whirlwind of classes on hours of service and evaluation, then pre-trip info according the to FMCSR and evaluation. After lunch of provided sandwiches (you get to choose from a list of sandwiches M,T,W and Thur we get a healthy eating class with lunch to follow.) the afternoon consisted of more computer lessons and testing mixed in with the driving evaluations. Our class had no losses due to poor driving. This seems to be exceptional according to several drivers that are in the hotel for one reason or another. It was a little different (I couldn't think of a more descriptive word) driving an automatic tractor. The shifts feel like they do in a standard truck only you don't know when they will happen. It was nicer with the open view over a flatbed since I have only driven van trailers. One other item on the food issue, you have to provide your own breakfast and dinner until Thursday. After that you are completely on your own. There is a shuttle that can run you to Walmart to buy your choice of foods and 2 refrigerators and microwaves in the lounge. There are also coffee pots in the lounge and the drivers lounge of the training building. We are supposed to received our job offers tomorrow and I am excited about that. Will post Wednesday.

 

We received our job offers today! When you walk into the mid afternoon class there is a set of PPE with your name on the hard hat sitting by your laptop. Maverick does a nice ceremony of making the offer to each class member. Then upon acceptance offering a firm handshake with "Welcome to Maverick". After the classroom there is a hallway full of instructors and the previous weeks students to welcome and congratulate you. Really cool!!! We had a talk from operations today who explained a number of the programs to us including the fuel mpg bonus program. The customer service lead came and explained the process of how we received our loads and communicating with him or his other CSRs. And to end the day the President spoke to us about a few of his important aspects on the company including the fact almost all of us will be driving 2010 or newer Cascadias. Maverick has replaced almost a third of it's older trucks this year. Tomorrow we start learning how to secure standard loads. One instructor called us glass haulers "Hybrids" since we will haul both glass and can pull flatbed freight too.
Until tomorrow.

 

Thursday was a whirlwind - again! Started with a talk from the director of training. He is an exceptionally motivating speaker. Really puts pride in your backbone because your job is IMPORTANT!!! This was followed by a quick tour through the headquarters where we met "Momma Kay" and our recruiters. On our return we moved into the second classroom where we started learning the basics of our hands on securement training. We move out of the Maverick Hotel tomorrow and in to the local Galloway Motel. It is about 3/4 mile away at the interstate intersection. It is a slight inconvenience that we have to pack and haul our gear over to the school but I hear the accommodations are better. The home work moved to a different level, from extensive planning and HOS learning to "these assignments need to be completed by Sunday. This is nice because it gives us the option of when we complete it. Tomorrow is Friday, not that it means a lot. We are scheduled to work through to next Thursday morning. Such is the life of a trucker.

 

Congrats on the new truck. Hope to see your husband out on the road or in NC sometime.

 

THere have been numerous senior and not so senior Maverick people say "You may not like what I say but I'm going to tell you the truth". Everything I have heard leads me to believe they stand behind what they say. As many have said "Maverick is not perfect but they are a good solid company to work for. If you would like call me after 2 Sat and I will talk to you 419-565-1065.